Nier Automata Creator Shares That Fake Autographs Are Being Sold In His Name

In the world of collectibles, few things are as valuable as an autograph. If you need proof, just ask baseball fans how much a 1/1 Paul Skenes autograph is worth, and they’ll tell you. With that in mind, it’s no wonder why video game fans have turned to autographed versions of artwork, physical games and just about anything under the sun from some of their favorite creators, voice actors and artists.

One of those creators is Yoko Taro, the mastermind behind the likes of Nier: Automata and Drakengard, and his very distinctive autograph featuring his logo and the name “YOKO TARO” emblazoned on the front.

There’s just one problem with that — apparently more than half of the available Yoko Taro autographs in the wild are actually fake.

Yoko Taro, The Genius He Is, Remains One Step Ahead Of Resellers

Taking to Twitter, Taro, in response to someone sharing an autograph of his for sale on a collectible’s website, revealed that not only is that particular autographed item a fake, but so are many other items in the wild bearing his signature.

As it turns out, Taro was well aware that resellers would attempt to cash in on his signature, so he autographs his items with little details that would seemingly escape the naked eye so that way he could spot a fake from a mile away.

“I’ve confirmed that nearly half of the autographs being resold are actually fake, so please don’t buy them,” Taro wrote, though it’s unclear where exactly the majority of these fakes are being sold.

Similarly, Taro didn’t explain just how fans of his could tell a real from a fake. Obviously, divulging that info would just put resellers back in the driver’s seat as they make even more sophisticated examples.

The end result, much like Yoko Taro himself, is a mystery. That said, if you happen to have a “YOKO TARO” autograph as part of your collectibles, then you probably should go and double check it because there’s a good chance it’s a fake. Yikes..